Event, agency seek to raise awareness about deafness

Lisa Colagross grew up around people who are deaf including both parents and her husband.

In fact, she learned how to sign before learning to speak English.

Because of her ability to hear and sign fluidly, Colagross often found herself providing interpretive services for people who were deaf.

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A turning point in her life came when a friend was receiving treatment for cancer at a local hospital and Colagross was there to provide interpretive services for him.

"That to me showed a need, that there wasn't much interpretive services available for the deaf," she said.

Colagross decided to do something about it.

She moved from Cleveland to Leroy Township and founded the Northeast Deaf Service Center.

Her agency provides advocacy and interpretive services for people who are deaf and who live in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties.

The goal is to promote and empower equal communication access for the deaf by alleviating any communication barriers. One way is to provide qualified interpreters and advocates.

Colagross said recent U.S. Census Data shows there are approximately 10,000 people who are deaf in the three counties her agency serves. She said that statistic is based on people who have hearing loss in at least one ear.

"As an agency we establish awareness and it's important to understand that a deaf person can be in a situation where an interpreter is needed," Colagross said. "Just because someone can read lips doesn't mean they can understand."

She said that a deaf person might not be able to understand writing in English or there can be miscommunication.

"If it's visibly signed to them in their language they can understand," Colagross said.

The Northeast Deaf Service Center will host a free community event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Painesville Methodist Church, 71 N. Park Ave., Painesville.

Guest speakers scheduled are Verne Taylor Jr., president of Ohio Association for the Deaf; and Steve Burford of Sorenson Communication, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For more information about Northeast Deaf Service Center, visit www.nedsc.org or call 216-323-5232.